Beading

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Beading
Simple Techniques

Beading refers here to the use of seed beads in a jewelry design.

The craft market offers amazing colors, especially Japanese one and they have a strong visual effect in any jewelry patterns.

They are easy to coordinate with other jewelry components/parts, they are the " little something "which makes the difference.

We will show here how to make a fringe to embellish earrings for example, how to finish a chain tassel and how to "colour up" a simple cord with sequins. You can use to "spruce up" any jewelry patterns!

Fringe Making

Fringe making, a technique inspired by embroidery.

It is a simple technique but nevertheless it's a nice way to add more color in a jewelry. The picture above shows seed beads and a beautiful vintage bead. It is a nice way to mix stripes with floral patterns.

With this technique, you can use seed beads, small gemstones, vintage, wood beads, anything you like!

Supplies

Nylon thread, size "B"or "D",
Needle size 12 or 13,
seed beads (11° or 15°),
1 or 2 little beads like 2 mm gemstones, chips,8° or 6° seeds…
scissors and glue.

How To

Cut a comfortable length of thread (30 cm) or 12"-inch,
needle on 5 to 8 (15°) seeds, pull them to the end of the thread.
Pass your needle and thread through the eye of the eye pin,
You need to make a loop with the 15° seeds. Pull the thread to tighten and make a double knot,
pass back through all the 15°. As we said, this loop is attached to an eye pin, so make sure it is very strong and the knots well glued.
String on 20 or more seeds, one or two "rondelles", one seed.
Skip the last seed strung, pass the needle back through the rondelles and the 20 seeds, pull the threads to tighten,
make a square knot, glue.
Pass the tail in one or two beads (very important for security, strength) and then trim. You have a nice fringe. Simple!

Click here to see how to make fringe earrings with black onyx gemstones.

Detail of a fringe.
Small labradorite "rondelles" finishes this fringe made with seed black only stones.
The idea here was to play with grey and black tones and give a fancy and elegant style.

Tassel Embellishment

Small color touches to finish nicely this pendant. String 3 (15°) seeds, a small pink glass bead, 1 yellow 6°, 1 (15°). Skip the last 15° strung, pass back through the yellow and pink beads. Add 3 15° to make a loop and link to the chain by making several knots. Pass through several beads before cutting to secure the work.
It takes time to finish this craft tassel with tiny beads but it is worth it!

Click here to see the how to sew sequins and seeds on a cotton cord.
Here we have mixed different green colors. It is very interesting to do it with seed beads because you can find opaque, transparent green, silver lined… color tones.

For more ressources,

Click HERE!